I gotta hand it to Henry Eyring...

[_Henry Jacobs]

I don't get your idea of the holy spirit then. It seems to be an entity that 1)Inspires a prophet with the words the world needs to hear; and 2)Interferes while that prophet tries to deliver those words to the world.

An interesting paradox, no?

We could put it on the shelf with the rest of the "interesting paradoxes" or we could admit that it could be a clue as to whether the notion of a holy spirit is reality or self-delusion.

Not saying one way or the other about the conclusion we should be drawing, but sweeping it away as a paradox seems like dismissal, rather than an answer.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

Not saying one way or the other about the conclusion we should be drawing, but sweeping it away as a paradox seems like dismissal, rather than an answer.

Could it be that mortal limitations constrain the Spirit?

[_Thama]

Could it be that mortal limitations constrain the Spirit?

Then we must ask the question: Why would a being who is called an equal member of the Godhead (and therefore, presumably omnipotent) be constrained by a propensity to cry?

[_Henry Jacobs]

Not saying one way or the other about the conclusion we should be drawing, but sweeping it away as a paradox seems like dismissal, rather than an answer.

Could it be that mortal limitations constrain the Spirit?

Yes, it could be.

Could it be that what we call the holy spirit is a product of our own imagination, LoaP?

[_collegeterrace]

Could it be that mortal limitations constrain the Spirit?

Yes, it could be.

Could it be that what we call the holy spirit is a product of our own imagination, LoaP?

Or a self induced emotional epiphany.

[_LifeOnaPlate]

Sure, it could be. We all could be a mere mental construct. Solipsism, anyone?

[_John Larsen]

Sure, it could be. We all could be a mere mental construct. Solipsism, anyone?

Straw man anyone?

[_Henry Jacobs]

Sure, it could be. We all could be a mere mental construct. Solipsism, anyone?

The only way the spirit could be in our heads is if EVERYTHING is in our heads?

I guess that's a "no"? Is it that hard to answer a yes-no question?

[_Buckeye]

I don't get your idea of the holy spirit then. It seems to be an entity that 1)Inspires a prophet with the words the world needs to hear; and 2)Interferes while that prophet tries to deliver those words to the world.

To be clear, I was suggesting that President Eyring (as myself) at time struggles to control his emotional expression. I do not think he (nor I) tries to choke back the spirit itself, only to control a reaction to it.

Now, why would the spirit's manifestation at times be so overpowering as to interfere with one's ability to communicate? I'm not entirely sure. But there is precedent in the scriptures for it. (I'll give you a reference if you want, but I'm sure you can think of many examples on your own).

This doesn't bother me at all. Having four children, I know from experience that during their first year children often can become overstimulated by sights and sounds. Their natural reaction is to shut down. It is for this reason that books geared towards newborns are very simple - often just black and white shapes.

I believe the same thing may be happening with our reaction to the spirit. We are novices at this. It shouldn't be suprising that we can be overcome at times.

[_Gadianton]

Two/three year olds put on drama to get sympathy from mom and dad. The "put on" quickly because real and the child will forget whether the current battle is a real one or staged. What Eyring and adults who cry at the pulpit are doing, is nothing more than what a child does to get attention and sympathy. Eyring and others are old enough to know better, so we'll just go ahead and make fun of them for it.